Reps. Cleaver and Wagner Introduce Backlog Justice Act of 2026

September 17, 2026 Press Release Bipartisan bill is designed to address the national backlog of untested sexual assault kits (Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO) reintroduced the Backlog Justice Act of 2026 , legislation designed to bring justice to victims of sexual violence by addressing the national backlog of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs). Almost every minute, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. After an assault, survivors can choose to undergo a thorough forensic analysis conducted by a doctor or nurse, where medical needs are evaluated and key evidence is obtained from their person. That evidence, which can include samples of the perpetrator’s hair and bodily fluids and evidence of the harm they inflicted on the victim, is then collected and stored in an SAK. The evidence in SAKs can be key to catching perpetrators, delivering justice to victims, exonerating innocent parties, and connecting cases of assaults carried out by serial offenders. Unfortunately, far too often, SAKs are not tested. Bias against victims, lack of training and technology, and under-resourced crime labs are just some of the many factors that have created this crisis. Today, experts estimate the national untested SAK backlog ranges from the tens of thousands to the hundreds of thousands. This is a failure that must be addressed. “Too often, the trauma of sexual assault is made even more painful by delayed justice,” said Rep. Cleaver. “Having already lived through a horrific experience, survivors must often deal with additional trauma from a system that doesn’t believe them, doesn’t prioritize them, and doesn’t hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. While untested SAKs sit on shelves, survivors live in fear while predators continue to walk free. By leveraging the coordination and capacity-building powers of the federal government, the Backlog Justice Act is a step towards addressing this vital issue, bringing justice to victims, and keeping our communities safe. I thank Rep. Wagner and our colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their partnership in this important effort.” “For years I have fought for the rights and safety of survivors of sexual assault, and I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to advance that work and further reduce the sexual assault kit backlog,” said Congresswoman Wagner . “The Backlog Justice Act will create a tracking system to ensure states fully understand the extent of their backlog so we can deploy resources in the areas that need it most.  This updated system will help law enforcement work more effectively with state, local, and federal authorities to identify perpetrators and make sure survivors find the justice they deserve. This bill complements and strengthens my Debbie Smith Act, legislation signed into law in 2024 that gave more funding for rape kit testing and was also supported by Congressman Cleaver.“ “MOCADSV is pleased to continue our support of the Backlog Justice Act sponsored by Missouri Congressman Cleaver and Congresswoman Wagner,” said Cheryl Robb-Welch, CEO of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. “The representatives have remained diligent in their efforts to listen to advocates in the field and the victims they serve, and we appreciate their dedication to responding to sexual violence. The Backlog Justice Act aims to improve technology and knowledge used in forensic testing of sexual assault kits, strives to increase funding to ensure kits are tested and tracked through the process, and enhances accountability nationwide to ensure sexual assault kits are included in an electronic tracking and notification system that is available to victims. This bill will shine a light on each state’s forensic kit inventories and processing times with the goal of improving national sexual assault response. We believe this is a significant step to ensuring that the days of kits sitting on shelves and the system not responding to rape victims are over.” “Additional resources for forensic science services providers are vital in ensuring that victims are taken seriously,” said Matthew Gamette, Chair of the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations. “Survivors deserve to have their kits tested, have visibility to the status of their kits, their cases investigated and prosecuted, and their perpetrators held accountable.  Forensic science training, technology implementation, appropriate and robust validation of technology are critical to solving sexual assault cases in the United States.  Robust and reliable forensic science is support for victims of crime." “The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence commends Representatives Wagner and Cleaver for their leadership on behalf of survivors of sexual assault,” said Terri Poore, Policy Director for NAESV. “Survivors deserve to have the evidence from their bodies treated with the utmost sensitivity and diligence, and we must make every effort to keep our communities safe. We are proud to endorse the Backlog Reduction Act of 2026." Specifically, the Backlog Justice Act of 2026 would: Direct the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish, maintain, and update a National Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Database , enabling policymakers and advocates alike to have more comprehensive data so that they can recommend and implement more precise policies and funding levels in order more effectively reduce the backlog. The information on the database would be anonymized and include no personally identifiable information about victims. Authorize training programs at the FBI laboratory to increase the number of DNA analysts available to test SAKs in crime labs across the country. The severe understaffing of crime labs is a key factor contributing to the backlog in kit testing. Shift the burden of DNA instrument calibration and validation from individual crime labs to the FBI laboratory . In many jurisdictions, untested SAKs have outpaced the resources to test, process, and profile DNA samples in crime labs. One major reason for this is because lab technicians are often having to spend outsized portions of their time testing and validating the lab instruments used in the DNA testing process. By transferring much of the instrument validation burden over to FBI labs, DNA analysts in crime labs across the country would be able to focus more of their time and resources actually testing SAKs rather than calibrating lab instruments. Incentivize states to implement Electronic Evidence Tracking Systems for SAKs to increase transparency into the testing process for survivors and their advocates. In many states, once the DNA sample is collected, survivors are unable to access any information about the status of their kit in the testing process. The kit testing process should not be a black box for survivors and their advocates, who deserve transparent justice. The Backlog Justice Act of 2026 is cosponsored by Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Josh Harder (CA-09), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). The Backlog Justice Act of 2026 is endorsed by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations, and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Official text of the Backlog Justice Act of 2026 is available here . Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.